Question: Setting up a Public Wifi Network

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surg255

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Mar 22, 2013
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I am a computer/network newby. Thank you in advance for you time and thought. I would like to setup a public wireless network in very large warehouse that has units or areas separated by concrete block. I have a separate internet line from our office network to share for this project. I would like to run Cat wire from the access router to each of the 3 separate units and at the end of the Cat wire connect to a wireless router to provide internet. I have a few questions I would like your help with:

1. how far can cat wire work?

2. starting from the internet access point router in Unit 1 I want to connect Cat Wire approx. 300 feet and connect to a wireless router in the Unit 2. From the wireless router in the Unit 2 i would like to attach another 200 to 300 feet of cat wire into Unit 3 to connect a wireless router. Will this configuration work? Will it run efficient? If no to either, What would I need to do to make a configuration of this sort work?
 
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punahou1

punahou1

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Dec 26, 2010
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You can run cat5/6 about 300 feet before signal loss kicks in. For anything greater you should probably have a repeater. Daisy chaining wireless routers will work - there are various configurations you can do with some of the Netgear routers. You can also do this without cable but you need to ensure that the routers support wireless distribution system (WDS).
 
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surg255

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Mar 22, 2013
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Thanks for replying. Of the solutions your recomended, if you had to pick the one that would be the most reliable which would it be?

 
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punahou1

punahou1

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While more costly I would probably go with the wired daisy chain approach. When you do this without a cable your router is supporting both the chain and your clients so that could have an impact on speed depending upon the client applications. Be sure to also check your router manufacturer's website to see if they have specific recommendations. Also, if reliability is a major concern make sure your routers have some type of UPS.
 
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surg255

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Mar 22, 2013
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Thanks again for your input. There's so much info on the internet that I really don't know what applies specific to my application. I'm trying to design the setup, here's what I have in mind (> means "connected to"): Internet source > Verizon Action Tec model/wireless router Mi424-WR > Approximately 250 feet of cat 5 to Unit 2> NETGEAR WGR614 Wireless-G Router > 5 feet of cat 5 > unmanaged switch to extend the range of cat 5 > 275 feet of cat 5 to Unit 3> NETGEAR WGR614 Wireless-G Router. Does this seem like a good design? will I have to do anything else to set these items up to work with each other?
 
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punahou1

punahou1

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From what I have read Netgear states that daisy chaining is not supported on the WGR614 (page 60 of their manual). I did, however, find a workaround at:
http://vpncasestudy.com/download/usefuldoc/how_to_access_point.pdf I would caution you as workarounds can be problematic. If you already have these routers run a test. If not, look for a router with the WDS spec. (I am not familiar with the WFR614 but did see a post suggesting this is an older model running at a significantly lower speed than the newer models that are out there).

 
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surg255

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Mar 22, 2013
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I did some research on Amazon and found a few wirelss routers that support WDS. I narrowed it to 2. Do you have any router suggestions?

http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WDR3500-Wireless-Router-300Mbps/dp/B0098QV038/ref=sr_1_13?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1364243370&sr=1-13&keywords=%22wds%22

http://www.amazon.com/EnGenius-ESR9850-300Mbps-Wireless-Repeater/dp/B002TY785A/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1364243370&sr=1-1&keywords=%22wds%22

I think the for what i want to do the (2nd) engenius one is better because it has a built in switch. I'm going from the internet access point action tec modem.router from verizon to 275 +/- feet of cat 5 connected to the wireless router/wds/switch (will the built in switch in the wireless router allow me to push the internet through the cat 5 another 274 feet to the next wireless router? total linear feet of cat 5 is 550 feet - 275 to router 1 w/switch and 275 to router 2 w/switch. is there alot of setup/configuration involved in this?) connected to 275 +/- feet of cat 5 into another wireless router/wds/switch to another 275+/- feet of cat 5 into the final wireless router/wds/switch. So my end goal is get our customers wi fi access by connecting the wireless routers in separate units together with cat 5 from the access point of the verizon action tec modem/router. Do you think this will create a reliable network? I am a total beginner at wireless networking. Do you think this will be a hard undertaking setting this up and configuring the 2 wireless routers in WDS mode? Do you have any other suggestion? With your input I'll be buying 3 Wireless routers by engenius above, 1000 feet of cat 5, crimping tools and connectors and trying to get it done asap. I'm a little hesitant to under take this myself but I'm hoping you can arm me with the design info to get it done.
 
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punahou1

punahou1

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In reviewing info on the EnGenius ESR9850 they state that you can configure it as a repeater and that it would support both the repeater function and the AP (access point) function which would be want you want it to do. (The manual seems pretty straight forward so it appears to be an easy configuration). Do this - go to their corporate website and under the "contact us" section they provide a technical support email address. Shoot them a quick email stating exactly what you want to do so you can get confirmation and configuration instructions in writing. Be sure to ask them if the wired approach in a dual repeater/AP mode negates the need for the bandwith to be split between these two functions...
 
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